Long-stay visitor visa
VLS-TS visiteur
A one-year renewable permission for people who can support themselves and who undertake in writing not to work in France. That undertaking is the point of the route and it covers remote work too.
Who it is for. Retirees and financially independent people not intending to work.
Worth knowing. The means test is assessed against the French minimum wage (SMIC), which is revised at least annually — the stored figure is indicative. Consulates apply the no-work undertaking strictly, and it is the most common reason applicants on this route run into difficulty later.
- Income required
- €1,802
- Savings required
- Not stated
- Investment required
- None
- Application fee
- €99
- Processing time
- 15–60 days
- Permission lasts
- 12 months
- Permanent residence
- After 5 years
- Citizenship
- After 5 years
a month
Renewable
Sources
Worth knowing. The means test is assessed against the French minimum wage (SMIC), which is revised at least annually — the stored figure is indicative. Consulates apply the no-work undertaking strictly, and it is the most common reason applicants on this route run into difficulty later.
Check this against
- France-Visas — the official French visa portal (opens in a new tab)Ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères · Foreign ministry